The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-11-10
THE INTERPRIST POTTERY,
Oconee's Clay Turned into Useful and
Beautiful Pieces ofPottery.

WALIALLA, October 31.-Yesterday l
paid visit to the Enterprise Pottery of
our town. This enterprise has been es.
tablished in our midst only recently and
is just now getting into active operation.
About three or four years since Capt John
G. Neville made the discovery Of one Of
the finest and most plastic clays that.can
be found. He then erected tbree-story
building with the design of manufactur-
ing English Bristol ware. He continued
in this branch of the pottery business
until quite recently, when he was driven
by the fneness and purity of his clay and
other advantages to the conclusion that
he could manufacture the finer grades Of
ware more pro6tably.
Having come to this conclusion, Capt
Neville sent SOME Of his clay to Mr.. VIM
E. Rivers, who at that time was superin.
tending the Art Tile works of Newburgh,
N. Y. for the purpose of having it tested.
MIR. Rivers, having tested the argillaceous
compouned, returned the result in the
form and finish of most handsome tea
pot and beautiful vase. Mr.. Rivers, the
experienced and practical potter, to whom
Capt Neville had sent his clay, upon test
ing it and appreciating its fine quality,
Immediately sent down an application for
the management of the pottery with
view of becoming a party to the firm.
Capt Neville Offering terms agreeable to
Mr.. Rivers, he packed up last June,
relinquished New York, and has since
been proving himself citizen Of our
town, thoroughly alive to industry and
enterprise.
Upon my arrival at the pottery I was
first shown the clay, which was as fine as
-four and when kneaded as plastic as
flour dough. This clay is first mined,
1.-THE mine is near the pottery: then run
through a pug mill, which reduces it all
to the same consistency. tits then taken
from the mill and carried down in damp
celler, where it is stored for future use.
There is another way they have of pre-.
pairing the clay. The clay is incorporat-
ed with water and reduced 10 about the
same consistency as cream and then pass,
ed through very fine seive. The clay
prepared according to this process is used
for casting purposes.
From the place of preparing the clay I
went into the room where the artisans
were converting the raw plastic materials
into hard, substantial, useful and orna-
mental vessels. This is most interest
ing sight, and is apparently simplicity
simplifed. My attention was first direct.
ed to casting. The moulds, that are
larger at the bottom than at the top, are
of necessity made in sections otherwise
the vessel, having been made in the
mould, could not be got out. In the cast
ing process the clay is poured into moulds
made of plaster Paris. The plaster, be-
ing porous, is in consequence an absorb
ent and takes in the moisture from the
clay next to the mould, which leaves it
stiff or hard, while that in the centre is
yet liquid and is poured back into the
receptacle from which it had been taken.
1t can be used over again.
The next process that attracted my at
tention was that of pressing. In execut.
ing this method lump of solid clay
corresponding in amount with one side of
the proposed vessel is taken from large
block always on hand. This lump is
beaten out to the desired thickness, then
pressed in one side of the mould. The
filing of the other side is accomplished
in similar way The two sides are then
put together with roll of clay, between
which is pressed into the seams, making
the sides we'll connected. The bottom is
made and fastened by the same means.
| My attention was next drawn to the
modus operaudi known asjiggering. This
mode is executed by two employees, a
boy and man. The boy turns wheel
which trains its speed to the jigger, in
which a mould is placed. A lump of
clay is then put in proportion to the size
of the desired vessel While the mould
in the jigger is spinning around, the man
draws down a handle with a tool attached
which fashions the inside as the mould
does the outside.
Having observed the different methods
of forming the vessels, I was conducted
into the designing, modelling and mould
making department. Here I met Mr..
Rivers, who was making, from an origin.
al design, most handsome model, dis
playing good taste and fine workmanship.
Mr.. Rivers is thorough potter. He
came over from England to the United
States about ten years ago. While in
England he was associated with potting
from boyhood, thus receiving thorough
training. The process of making moulds
was being rapidly executed in this de.
partment from the models developed by
Mr.. Rivers. The models are made of
plaster or hard clay. The moulds are
made from plaster Paris exclusively.
The ware, after it has been fashioned,
is placed in storcroom, where it is thor.
oughly dried, ard afterwards it is placed
in large cylindrical or oval clay encase'
ments called saggers. These saggers are
made from coarse clay and pulverized
rock.
Inext visited towering kiln construct.
ed upon modern principles. Here I met
the young and energetic Mr.. Samuel
Neville, party 10 the firm, who manages
the Grming and the evacuation of the kiln
after it is fired and cooled off. Mr.. Ne
vile informs me that the heat he attains